Convertible cabriagke-shai t



2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

R. J. coLv-m.

Whiflietfee.

Patentd May 10, [859.

Mai-Zena;

r w W I N. PEIERS. PHOTO LITHOGRAPH v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. R. J. COLVIN.

Whifiletree.

Patented May 10,. 1859.

N: PETERS, PHOTO-LITMOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. n c.

} "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT I. GOLVIN, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVERTIBLE CARRIAGE-SHAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 23,901, dated May 10, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bonner I. COLVIN, of the city and county ofLancaster, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new andImproved Combined Pole and Shaft- Arrangement for Converting a One-Horseto a Two-Horse Vehicle; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and

exact description of the construction and operation of the same,reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure 1, is the shaft, and Fig. 2, the polearrangement. Fig. 3 shows the overlapping and combination of theshouldered ends of the shafts, when converted into a pole, with theadjustable braces attached. Fig. 4, is the pole-crab or yoke with itshinged caps. Fig. 5 shows the double and swivel trees, with their bolt,spring and strap arrangement for disengaging the traces, which may beused in connection with the pole-crab. Fig. 6, is one of the ends of theswivel tree opened, showing the coiled spring and shouldered bolt.

In order to convert the shafts K, L, Fig. 1, into a pole as shown byFig. 2, the thumbscrews On the bolts Y, R, and E are removed and thebolts drawn out, upon doing which the shouldered ends of the shafts willslide to the center, overlap so that the holes in each correspond forthe admission of the bolt Y, and double tree (Fig. 5), firmly unitingboth into one between the circular slot or bars A. At the combined endsof these slot-bars A, are counter shoulders adapted to those on the endsof the shafts V. These ends have a projection to which the adjustablebraces I, are affixed at one end and carried back to the pole-stays B,and attached to the eyes F, by the same bolt previously used in the eyesE. The pole stays, B, are hinged to the aXle O, by the clips W, in theordinary manner, while they are united forwardly to the slot-bars A, bya plate X. Then, by slipping the caps a, of the pole-crab or yoke N(Fig. 4:) over the ends of the combined shafts in front, the

pole is complete.

The advantage in using caps over the ends instead of pegs entering into,must be very apparent, rather strengthening the poles than weakeningthem; besides pegs are liable to bend, while the caps (being hinged) arereadily slipped on or off. This in combination with a double tree andswivel trees shown by Fig. 5, with combined strap M, acting on all thebolts, will disengage the traces by a simple pull, when the horsesbecome ungovernable. The hinged caps will then be drawn from the ends ofthe combined shafts and the horses perfectly disengaged from thevehicle.

I am aware that swivel-trees of a similar construction have been used,in one horse vehicles. I do not claim the device separate from thecombination in which I use them for two horse vehicles with the hingedcaps 2, on the pole-crab N, aforesaid.

The slot or segment bars A, may be simplified and improved together withthe pole stays B, as shown by Fig. 7. Instead of the plate X, two curvedand projecting ends Q are cast to the lower segment bar, extending backfor the support of the adjustable braces I, to be attached at F, and tothe projecting ends V, of the shafts (K, L Fig. The pole stays B, arethen attached to the outer and lower side of the segment bars A. Thesestays have a jointed piece at 1, with a pivoted thill attachment 2, toenable the same to be adjusted to vehicles, when the clips are variablein their distances apart, as illustrated by Fig. 8. The curved slot orsegment bars in either case answer the double purpose of sliding guidesand sup ports to both the pole or shaft arrangement. These bars A asshown, are united externally, with beveled shoulders between them,adapted to the counter shoulders on the ends of the shafts K, L,combining as shown by Fig. 3, together with the project-ing ends V, andthe adjustable braces I, which latter afiord additional strength andsecurity.

I am aware that adjustable shafts for vehicles, capable of being unitedto form a pole or tongue are not new and I therefore lay no claimthereto,but

That I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The attachment of removable shafts by means of the adjustable bracesI, I, and the hinged caps z, 2, of the pole-crab N.

2. The curved or segment bars A,.for1ning a transverse horizontal slotin which the shafts are supported at their rear end, both when separatedin the ordinary way, and when united together as a pole.

3. The hinged and pivoted thill attachment, for accommodating the widthof the same to different positions of the clips upon the axle.

